Codes and Ciphers: Julius Caesar, the Enigma, and the Internet

by R. F. Churchhouse

• ISBN13: 9780521810548
• ISBN10: 052181054X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2001-12-24
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

The design of code and cipher systems has undergone major changes in modern times. Powerful personal computers have resulted in an explosion of e-banking, e-commerce and e-mail, and as a consequence the encryption of communications to ensure security has become a matter of public interest and importance. This book describes and analyzes many cipher systems ranging from the earliest and elementary to the most recent and sophisticated, such as RSA and DES, as well as wartime machines such as the ENIGMA and Hagelin, and ciphers used by spies. Security issues and possible methods of attack are discussed and illustrated by examples. The design of many systems involves advanced mathematical concepts and this is explained in detail in a major appendix. This book will appeal to anyone interested in codes and ciphers as used by private individuals, spies, governments and industry throughout history and right up to the present day.

Author Biography

Robert Churchhouse is Emeritus Professor of Computing Mathematics at Cardiff University.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. From Julius Caesar to simple substitution

3. Polyalphabetic systems

4. Jigsaw systems

5. Two-letter ciphers

6. Codes

7. Ciphers for spies

8. Producing random numbers and letters

9. The ENIGMA cipher machine

10. The Hagelin cipher machine

11. Beyond the ENIGMA

12. Public key cryptography

13. Encipherment and the Internet

14. Appendix 1: References

15. Appendix 2: Solutions to problems

16. Appendix 3: Mathematical aspects.